North West Championships at Budworth

SNIPE NORTH WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS AT BUDWORTH

By David Alexander, Regatta Chairman

There was a good turnout of 28 Snipes for the North West Championships held at Budworth Sailing Club on 28th and 29th September, 2002. An international flavour was added by high- ranking crews visiting from Norway and USA.

The Norwegian fleet of three, from Stavanger, comprised Jørn Haga and Ida Setersdal, Rune Kartveit and Janicke Allers, Bjarte Høylandskjær and Hege Jarle Haaland. Whereas Rune and Janicke just missed out on the prize places, Jørn and Ida made fifth place.

Gene Soltero from Dallas, Texas, brought his own sails and borrowed Judith Goodwin's ITSA Marine Snipe, 28639: Budworth's Deborah Love stood in as crew. Gene finished third overall, but what really made his weekend, was his first place in the fourth race, which was also his first win in the UK. Gene can now claim to have won a race in each country he has competed in.

The weather for the weekend came in as forecast - mild, hazy to sunny conditions with wind from the South, light on Saturday and 13 mph or so on Sunday. These winds, coming across the length of the Mere, can produce some of Budworth's trickiest racing conditions - this weekend was no exception - perhaps favouring the local crews.

However, even for crews with local experience, rounding the windward mark, situated in the lee of Marbury Park Woods, increasingly became a lottery during the first two races on Sunday. The lucky ones could expect to be lifted right round the mark, the unlucky ones were just headed off into still air. The situation improved for the last race, when the mark was moved further towards the centre of the mere.

Nevertheless, racing throughout the weekend was competitive, close and friendly. The first race set the scene with the lead changing hands at least four times. However, Neil and Jenny Martin got to the front on the penultimate lap, to go on to finish first, holding off a late surging challenge from Mark Antonelli and Robin Winsland.

Out of the Weekend's five races, it was only Mike Crompton winning in the second race, and Gene in the third, that broke Neil and Mark's "one two" finishing order for the rest. These results ensured Mark's second place overall and Neil and Jenny retaining respectively, the Howarth Trophy and Crosby Cup, as North West Snipe Champions.

The Juniors' racing was equally competitive and close. Geoffrey Edwards, crewed by Becky Partridge on Saturday and Katie Sampson on Sunday, was once again highest placed Junior helm at 15th, however, Tom Crompton, crewed by Will Edwards, was just one point and one place behind.

Results:

Place Sail Helm Crew Club Pts 1 29676 Neil Martin Jenny Martin Budworth 5.25 2 29677 Mark Antonelli Robin Winsland Budworth 9 3 29777 Gene Soltero Deborah Love Corinthian 13.75 4 29834 Alan Williams Liz Crouch Budworth 15 5 29855 Jørn Haga Ida Setersdal Stavanger 19 6 26996 Mike Crompton Ben Crompton Budworth 20.75 7 29451 Rune Kartveit Janicke Allers Stavanger 23 8 29163 Phil Hackney Michael Hackney Budworth 28 9 28451 Brian Gregory Ian Gregory Blue Circle 32 10 27098 John Love Chris Surridge Budworth 38 11 25225 David Alexander Frances Alexander Budworth 39 12 22779 Paul Fraser Duncan Fraser Budworth 52 13 24704 Hugh Smallman Andrew Brown (sat) Budworth 53 Sue Brown (sun) 14 26734 Nigel Harrison Kathryn Halmshaw Budworth 55 15 26671 Geoffrey Edwards Becky Partridge (sat) Budworth 56 Katie Sampson (sun) 16 20373 Tom Crompton Will Edwards Budworth 57 17 19894 Wally Hardman Val Hardman Budworth 59 18 20023 Mike Andrews Ted Thompson Budworth 65 19 29411 Roger Barnes Richard Barnes Budworth 68 20 27548 Bjarte Høylandskjær Hege Jarle Haaland Stavanger 73 21 20350 Steve Kelham Jane Kelham Budworth 74 22 29970 Stephen Johnstone Myles Johnstone(sat) Budworth 78 Lucas Johnstone(sun) 23 23762 Lester Scott Susan Robertson Budworth 80 24 28034 Raymond Ross Chris Haymes Budworth 93 25 19084 Gavin Watkins Dennis O'Byrne Stone 95 26 20184 Andy Hunt Katie Hunt Budworth 96 27 21071 Sam Robinson Emma Tunecliffe(sat) Budworth 103 Gema Bailey (sun) 28 21746 Paul Naylor Hilary Naylor Budworth 108

David Alexander